Casting What-Ifs
Hackman; Woods; Foster; Hamilton; Alexander; Bodison discovery
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:10Read transcript
- Hackman reportedly declined Jessup for Unforgiven, a decision endorsed because it won him the Oscar.
- James Woods reportedly lost the offer when Nicholson accepted; Woods is considered a strong alternative performer.
- Jodie Foster and Linda Hamilton competed for Jo; Hamilton is imagined as a tougher, more confrontational version.
- Jason Alexander was initially cast as Weinberg but reportedly withdrew after Seinfeld’s second-season renewal.
- Alexander is preferred over Pollak by one participant and rejected by two others; his Seinfeld association and squirmier screen persona are debated, with Larry David offered jokingly.